Miamiendangered animalsFlorida EnvironmentAnimals

Black Bears Removed From Florida's Endangered Species List (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

FWC Votes On Fate Of Florida Black Bears
By 

Contributor

|
Open Image Modal

After 38 years of state protection, the Florida black bear is joining a list of more than 60 animals that have been removed from the state's endangered species list.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted unanimously on Wednesday that the species had regained a healthy population and is no longer in peril. Seven black bear management units will monitor the animals.

“The Florida bear population is thriving. That is the success story, but we still have a lot of education to do,” commission chairperson Kathy Barco said in a release.

According to FWC’s 2011 Biological Status Review, the black bear's population has increased from a mere 300 in the 1970s to more than 3,000. Most live in the Ocala National Forest.

However, the commission was met with opposition from wildlife advocates. Matthew Schwartz, executive director of the South Florida Wildlands Association, was one of many who voiced a fear that the black bear is in danger because of a loss of habitat.

"I'm not happy," he told HuffPost Miami. “I thought at least one commissioner would see the logic of keeping the listing.”

In the FWC's own projections, the Florida black bear will lose 2.3 million acres of habitat by 2060. Also, the animals only have 18 percent of the roaming space they once had, leading to ongoing sighting of bears in Florida neighborhoods.

With the commission’s new management plan for the bear, a large focus will be on maintaining its habitat. However, Schwartz feels they didn’t even do this for the black bears when they were on the endangered species list.

“They have been on the sidelines as development after development has gone into [the bears’] habitat,” he said. “Habitat doesn’t come back. Once it’s been developed, you can’t turn back the clock.”

“We'll see if they’re going to step up to the plate and protect those places and get involved with those developments.”

PHOTOS: Black bears around the world:

Black Bears Around The World
(01 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this undated photo provided by the Oregon Zoo, a quarantined black bear cub plays with his stuffed otter toy at The Oregon Zoo in Portland. (AP Photo/Oregon Zoo, Carli Davidson) (credit:AP)
(02 of17)
Open Image Modal
A young black bear is seen grazing near the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center on Saturday, June 23, 2012, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer) (credit:AP)
(03 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this undated photo provided by the Oregon Zoo, a quarantined black bear cub explores his surroundings at The Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Oregon Zoo, Carli Davidson) (credit:AP)
(04 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this photo provided by Kern County Animal Control, a black bear that wandered onto school property during a Bakersfield school graduation is shown before being released in Kern County, Calif., Thursday, May 31, 2012. Kern County Animal Control officers say the young black bear approached the grounds of Ramon Garza Elementary School on Thursday, forcing students who were outside to return to their classrooms, and surprising students and parents attending a graduation ceremony at adjacent Sierra Middle School. (AP Photo/Kern County Animal Control, Kim Rodriguez) (credit:AP)
(05 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this photo provided by the Oregon Zoo, keeper Michelle Shireman interacts with the black bear cub she is taking care of while in quarantine at The Oregon Zoo. (AP Photo/Oregon Zoo, Carli Davidson) (credit:AP)
(06 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this Oct. 2, 2010 file photo released by TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, an Asiatic Black Bear cub watches from its cage at a bear bile farm in Hanoi, Vietnam. A share listing plan by Guizhentang that sells tonics made with bear bile is provoking a storm of online criticism in China from animal rights groups, celebrities and ordinary Chinese. Reports Friday, Feb. 17, 2012 said dozens of well-known entertainers, writers and other celebrities signed a petition to the China Securities Regulatory Commission urging it to withhold approval for the initial public offering by the Chinese medicines maker. (AP Photo/TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, M. Silverberg, File) (credit:AP)
(07 of17)
Open Image Modal
A bear, lower left, explores its cage on the farm of Marian Thompson near Zanesville, Ohio, after it was released to Thompson by the Columbus Zoo Friday, May 4, 2012. Terry Thompson, Marian's late husband, released 56 animals (credit:AP)
(08 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this March 2012 photo provided by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, biologist Brad Young holds a baby black bear in Bolivar County in Mississippi. Last year's Mississippi River floods may have killed a number of black bear cubs in Mississippi, says Young. (AP Photo/Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Casey Hubbard) (credit:AP)
(09 of17)
Open Image Modal
CHENGDU, CHINA: A rescued Black Bear reaches for an apple in a sanctuary at the Moon Bear Rescue Center, 16 December 2002 in Chengdu, Southwest China. The opening of the rescue center for black bears marks a crucial step in a campaign to curb bear bile farming for medical purposes. AFP PHOTO/Frederic J. BROWN (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(10 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this photo released by R.A., a black bear from Virginia, left, and Kris, a Louisiana black bear, right, are shown in this photograph taken in March 2011 and provided by Appalachian Bear Rescue of Townsend, Tenn., shortly before their release in April 2011. The animal, dubbed Kris because it arrived at the Tennessee center just before Christmas 2010, was shot and killed in southwest Mississippi in December. It had been tagged and released eight months earlier in Louisiana. Wildlife officials are investigating and say a suspect, an Amite County man, could face federal charges because Louisiana black bears are protected under the Endangered Species Act. (AP Photo/Appalachian Bear Rescue) (credit:AP)
(11 of17)
Open Image Modal
Yoyo, a black bear at the Orange County Zoo at Irvine Regional Park in Irvine, Calif., opens up a Christmas present on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 . The zoo wraps treats in gift boxes for the animals and places Christmas trees inside the exhibit for the holidays. (AP Photo/Orange County Register, Ana Venegas) MAGS OUT; LOS ANGELES TIMES OUT MBO (credit:AP)
(12 of17)
Open Image Modal
This July 2011 photo provided by the Appalachian Bear Rescue shows a cub at the center in Townsend, Tenn. The Appalachian Bear Rescue is the only place in the Southeast where orphaned black bears get a shot at survival. (AP Photo/Appalachian Bear Rescue) (credit:AP)
(13 of17)
Open Image Modal
This July 2011 photo provided by the Appalachian Bear Rescue shows two cubs at the center in Townsend, Tenn. The Appalachian Bear Rescue is the only place in the Southeast where orphaned black bears get a shot at survival. (AP Photo/Appalachian Bear Rescue) (credit:AP)
(14 of17)
Open Image Modal
In a Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 photo, a mother bear and her four cubs take refuge in a tree near US 93 just south of Whitefish, Montana. The bears quickly drew a crowd as both sides of the highway were lined with parked cars and people stopping to take photos. (AP/Daily Inter Lake, Brenda Ahearn) (credit:AP)
(15 of17)
Open Image Modal
A mother black bear and one of her four cubs take refuge in a tree near U.S. 93 just south of Whitefish, Mont., early Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. The five bears quickly drew a crowd as both sides of the highway were lined with parked cars and people stopping to take photos. (AP Photo/Daily Inter Lake, Brenda Ahearn) (credit:AP)
(16 of17)
Open Image Modal
In this undated file photo taken in Yachats, Ore., Karen Noyes feeds black bears outside her home. Noyes, who has lost a legal fight to feed black bears from her home on the Oregon coast, says she isn't returning to Oregon. (credit:AP)
(17 of17)
Open Image Modal
CHONGQING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 24: (CHINA OUT) Two black bears are forced to wear boxing gloves during a 'practice' session as part of preparations for the upcoming 'animal games', at Chongqing Safari Park on September 24, 2007 in Chongqing, China. Over 200 animals from twenty zoos across China will 'compete' in the four day games, as part of a national holiday. Chongqing Safari Park is home to approximately 30,000 animals from over 400 species, including black bears, emus chimpanzees and lions. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)

WATCH: A woman punches a bear in the nose to save her dog:

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip